Vol. 17, Part II · pages 531–535

APPENDIX—V POONA SATYAGRAHA SATYAGRAHIS ARRESTED Followers of the Scheduled Castes Federation in the Bombay Province launched their “non-violent Satyagraha” to-day in Poona to protest against the “injustice done to them by the British Cabinet proposal’s which is the result of Congress machinations.” The first batch of six “ Satyagrahis”— four women and two men — were arrested this morning opposite the Council hall for violating the Poona District Magistrate’s order and staging a demonstration in front of the Council Hall. The arrested persons include Mrs. Shantabai Dani, a member of the Working Committee of the Scheduled Castes’ Federation from Nasik, and Mrs. Gitabai Gaikwad, wife of Mr. B. K. Gaikwad, President of the Bombay Branch of the Federation. Just before the Assembly session began these six Satyagrahis entered the Council Hall compound, evading the police who were guarding the entrances in the compound and immediately on entering took out black flags from their pockets and shouted slogans of “Down with British Imperialism.” “Down with Congress” and “Scrap the Poona pact.” Two further batches of eight ladies and six men were later arrested at about 1 p. m. at the entrance of the compound wall. Almost at the same time as the first batch of “Satyagrahis” were staging their demonstration, a big procession of Scheduled Castes, which stated with the intention of going to the Council Hall and breaking the District Magistrate’s order, was being stopped near the War Memorial, on the Station Road at a chalk line marked to indicate the half mile distance from the Council Hall. According to the District Magistrate’s order no procession is allowed in the area half a mile from the Council Hall. The procession started at about 10 a. m. from the “Satyagraha” camp at Baba Jan Chowk and marched in files of four and five. It was headed by Mr. B. K. Gaikwad, President of the Bombay

507POONA SATYAGRAH Provincial Scheduled Castes Federation Mr. P. N. Rajbhoj, General Secretary of the Federation and Mr. R. R. Bhole, a former Member of the Bombay Assembly, Young girls and Women in the front carried black flags and the Federation flag. After wending its way along a circuitous route of about one and a half miles, the procession arrived at about 11 a.m. at the “boundary line” near the War Memorial. Lathi armed police numbering over hundred and police officers, including Mr. E. A. Dodwell, A. S. P., Mr. J. Crone, Dy. S. P., and Mr. F. D. Roach, Dy. S. P., were waiting there and immediately stopped the procession. The processionists squatted on the ground shouting Scheduled Castes Federation and other slogans. After remaining thus for about two hours, they decided to return back to the camp, and marched along the Wellesley Road back to the “ Satyagraha” camp. The processionists on arriving at the camp held a meeting and congratulated those who were arrested by the police. Mr. P. N. Rajbhoj, addressing the meeting, said that a beginning of their “freedom struggle” had been made today. The scheduled Castes, he said, were fully awake and they would not rest till they achieve their end. To-day’s Satyagraha was the beginning of a countrywide movement. Mr. B. K. Gaikwad announced that the procession of “Satyagrahis” would be taken out tomorrow and every day thereafter. The District Magistrate of Poona has issued an order to-day prohibiting carrying of sticks, knives, stones or any other missiles within the area under the Poona City Municipality, Poona suburban municipality and the Poona Cantonment Board. The order will be in force for seven days from July 15. It is understood that the above precaution is being taken in order to avoid any untoward incidents and breach of peace and order which might happen due to the “ Satyagraha” movement of the Scheduled Castes Federation.” 1 1: Jai Bheem, August 13, 1946, p. 7.

508 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES S. C. F. “ SATYAGRAHIS” JAILED One hundred and fourteen more Scheduled Castes Satyagrahis, who were arrested yesterday, were sent to jail today, bringing the total number of Satyagrahis under imprisonment since the commencement to 124. Today’s batch of 114 included 13 women who were asked to pay fine of Rs. 25 each or undergo in default 15 day’s simple imprisonment. The women preferred to go to jail. Of the 101 men Satyagrahis, 37 were awarded a fine of Rs. 30 or in default one month’s simple imprisonment and the remaining 64 a fine of Rs. 50 or in default two months simple imprisonment. All of them refused to pay the fine. The trial took place in the Yeravada Jail where the demonstrators were placed in custody. A statement charging the British Government and Congress with having betrayed the interests of the Schedule Castes was read out in the court during the trial on behalf of the arrested. The Congress, the statement said, which styed itself as a deomocratic body had betrayed their community at the time of the Poona Pact and also during the Cripps proposals and the British Cabinet proposals. The result of joint electorates agreed to by the Poona Pact were proved during the recent provincial elections when candidates having the Predominant support of Scheduled Castes were defeated and Congress “puppets” got elected on Caste Hindu votes. The organisers of the Satyagraha also took out a procession from the Satyagraha Camp at Baba Jan Chowk. The procession was stopped by the police at the Railway Goods Depot on the Wellesley Road at a distance of half a mile from the Council Hall. The processionists were addressed by Mr. G. H. Kale, M.L.A. (Bombay) who exhorted them to carry on their campaign till they won their fight. Mr. Kale said that he was in full sympathy with their demands.

509POONA SATYAGRAH More Arrests The “Satyagraha ” campaign launched by the Scheduled Castes Federation is continuing for the third day today. Batches of five and ten were seen shouting slogans and waving black flages opposite the Council Hall, in defiance of the orders of the Districts Magistrate. The police had by 2 p.m. when the Assembly session began today, arrested about 50 demonstrators, including two women. Fifth Day of Satyagraha Campaign S. C. F. Volunteers Arrested Restriction On Civil Liberty Deplored Demonstration by the Scheduled Castes volunteers opposite the Council Hall were continued today the fifth day of the Satyagraha Campaign. Within an hour the police guarding the entrance to the Council Hall compound arrested nearly 70 volunteers. Volunteers came in batches of four and five in drizzling rain and shouted slogans outside the compound of the Council Hall. The trial was held this morning at the Yeravada Jail of the 122 Satyagrahis who were arrested yesterday for the defiance of the ban. The Additional City Magistrate sentenced all of them to pay fines ranging from Rs. 25 to Rs. 50 or in default to suffer simple imprisonment ranging from 15 days to 60 days. The 13 women volunteers came in for the lighter sentences. The Federation leaders in Poona, Mr. B. K. Gaikwad, Mr. P. N. Rajbhoj and Mr. R. R. Bhole told the District Magistrate of Poona, at a meeting called by the Magistrate yesterday, that they could not accept any conditional offer for carrying on their Satyagraha and their protest against the injustice done to them by the British Government and the ban imposed by the Congress Government on taking out processions and staging demonstrations in an area of half a mile from the Council Hall would continue. The ban, they said, was a restriction on the cherished civil liberties of the masses. Fresh batches of volunteers who have offered to take part in the Satyagraha are on their way to Poona from different parts of the province according to the organisers of the Satyagraha. They say

510 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES that there would be no paucity of volunteers for the Satyagraha and that they were prepared to continue their struggle till they achieved their aim. Demonstrations Outside C. P.* Assembly 10,000 people including some 500 women, predominently members of the Scheduled Castes Federation held demonstrations outside the C. P. Assembly when it met today to elect its quota of 17 representatives to the Constituent Assembly. The demonstrators shouted “Boycott Constituent Assembly” Down with Congress Ministry,” “Boycott Harijan M. L. A.’s and “Revoke the Poona Pact.” The demonstration was a protest against the Cabinet Mission’s proposals and the demonstrators who carried black flags were peaceful. “Times on India Debate ” Britain may, and indeed must do all in her power to ensure that the interests of the minorities are fairly represented before the Advisory Committee which the Constituent Assembly will appoint but a decision on the justice of their claims, in spite of Mr. Churchill’s eloquent appeal yesterday, no longer rest with this country. British statesmen are fully entitled to press as the Secretary of State and other speakers did for generous treatment of such minority interests as organisation representing the Depressed Classes. But it is of the essence of Indian new status that the responsibility for settling this and other similar issues now rests with Indians themselves. Insincerity of Cabinet Delegation “I am surprised at the statement of Sir Stafford Cripps and Mr. Alexander with reference to the Scheduled Castes in the House of Commons,” says N. Sivaraj, President of the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation, in a Press interview to-day. He adds : Having committed the crime in conspiracy with the Congress of stabbing the Depressed Classes in the back and of *Central Provinces.